With one of the best overall records of any boys Arlington Travel Basketball teams this past winter, the fifth-grade Division 3 Blazers finished with a 16-1 mark and champions of the Fairfax County Youth Basketball League tournament title.
The Blazers finished 3-0 in the tourney, defeating Chantilly Youth Organization, 25-10, in the first round; Lee-Mount Vernon, 42-27, in the semifinals; then Herndon, 41-35, in the finals.
The Blazers won their final 15 games, following a two-point loss to Gainesville in the second contest. Of those 15 triumphs, only the victory over Herndon in the final was close.
The team led the league in most points scored and fewest allowed.
“The Blazers were an exceptional team,” head coach Mark Schoenfelder told ARLnow. “Key strengths were a transition offense, passing, rebounding and stifling team defense. Most impressively, the players celebrated each other’s successes more than their own.”
“I absolutely loved coaching this team,” Schoenfelder said.
The Blazers’ players were Dominic Bozzi, Henry Camilli, Ian Carpenter, Emmett Colvin, Colin Downer, Tony Ganbaatar, Lev Goldenpine, Liam Niez, Devin O’Shea, Grayson Pelkey, Tyler Seals and Joseph Vandermark. Ted Gregory was the assistant coach.
Vandermark, Seals and O’Shea were selected all-league. Downer was chosen as the league’s Most Valuable Player and Schoenfelder the Coach of the Year. O’Shea was the MVP of the playoffs.
